(MENAFN- Arab News) Ecial plans put into operation in Makkah to ease traffic congestion during the Ramadan and Eid holidays were a resounding success says Director of Makkah Traffic Col. Salman Al-Jamiei.'Regulating the movement of millions of pilgrims and visitors flocking to the Grand Mosque during the holy month is a challenging task for Makkah traffic police. The traffic plans succeeded in minimizing snags on roads and streets leading to the central zone around the Grand Mosque and other places" Al-Jamiei told Arab News.Traffic officers booked 200 parking violations and 300 other violations of unauthorized transporting of pilgrims during the holidays he said adding that the police also took penal measures against 500 motorcyclists for ferrying passengers illegally.All Civil Defense Red Crescent and traffic police forces were kept ready at exit points and roads to meet any eventuality as 80 percent of the pilgrims and visitors to Makkah started leaving soon after the Eid prayers at the Grand Mosque on Monday.'Preparations were made at all exit points of the holy city to do away with traffic bottlenecks that might occur because of the huge outflow of vehicles carrying returning pilgrims since the first day of the Eid" Al-Jamiei said.No vehicle was allowed to enter or remain at the central zone soon after the Eid prayer in order to avoid any likely traffic problem and the same system is in force even until the filing of the report. Officers in cars and on motorcycles continuously patrol the roads to solve any traffic problem that may arise.'After the Eid prayer all pilgrims and those who were in itikaf (a period of retreat in a mosque especially in the last 10 days of Ramadan) started returning home and special traffic plans were implemented for their hassle-free movement with total success" Al-Jamiei said.The plans included appointing field officers to assist pilgrims and worshippers to travel in buses from their lodgings to the Grand Mosque and back stopping any vehicle carrying pilgrims outside the entrance to the city and ensuring total freedom from bottlenecks on roads he added.